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Liquefaction process for a hydrothermally treated waste mixture containing plastics

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Abstract

Most landfilled plastic waste is a mixture or is in the form of composites with incombustible wastes such as glass, metals, and ceramics. After hydrothermal treatment, including a steam-explosion process, the separation of mixed waste (MW) into organic and inorganic substances becomes easy. However, the effect of hydrothermal pretreatment on the subsequent liquefaction of organic substances from MW is not obvious. In this study, the effects on the liquefaction of polystyrene and high-density polyethylene are discussed. Moreover, optimum conditions for the liquefaction of organic substances from hydrothermally treated MW are identified. By means of this hydrothermal pretreatment, including the steam-explosion process, polystyrene and high-density polyethylene can be significantly converted to oil by liquefaction at 300°–400°C. In comparison with liquefaction of hydrothermally pretreated mixed waste (HMW) at 300°–400°C with a batch type reactor, the yield of oil increases significantly on liquefaction using a semi-batch type reactor. It is considered that the radical chain and termination reactions among the radicals from HMW were inhibited in the semi-batch type reactor. On liquefaction of HMW in a semi-batch reactor, the conversion of HMW to oil was enhanced on increasing the liquefaction temperature to 350°C and the holding time to 60 min.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials and Applied Chemistry, College of Science and Technology, Nihon University, 1-5 Kanda, Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0062, Japan

    Motoyuki Sugano, Masanori Yamamoto, Mika Kumagai, Takayuki Shimizu, Katsumi Hirano & Kiyoshi Mashimo

  2. Department of Applied Chemistry, Junior College at Funabashi Campus, Nihon University, Chiba, Japan

    Motoyuki Sugano

  3. Glass Resourcing, Inc., Chiba, Japan

    Akihiro Komatsu

Authors
  1. Motoyuki Sugano
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  2. Akihiro Komatsu
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  3. Masanori Yamamoto
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  4. Mika Kumagai
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  5. Takayuki Shimizu
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  6. Katsumi Hirano
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  7. Kiyoshi Mashimo
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Correspondence to Motoyuki Sugano.

Additional information

Chemical Feedstock Recycling & Other Innovative Recycling Techniques 6

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Sugano, M., Komatsu, A., Yamamoto, M. et al. Liquefaction process for a hydrothermally treated waste mixture containing plastics. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 11, 27–31 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-008-0215-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-008-0215-3

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